
Pekingology Can China Sway Australia?
Feb 19, 2026
Charlie Edel, Senior Adviser and Australia Chair at CSIS, is an Australia-China specialist. He discusses Beijing’s use of economic coercion and inducements toward Australia. He explores Australia’s strategic role in China’s Indo-Pacific thinking. He covers trade leverage, de-risking and critical minerals, and why distant maritime moves in the South China Sea and Taiwan matter to Australian security.
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China Values Australia's Resources And Markets
- Australia mattered to China primarily for resources like iron ore, coal and education and tourism ties.
- Canberra's economic dependence created leverage Beijing tried to weaponize for political influence.
The 2020 COVID Inquiry Triggered Trade Coercion
- In 2020 Australia called for an international inquiry into COVID origins and China responded with sweeping trade restrictions.
- Instead of silencing Canberra, the coercion united Australian politics and drove public outrage against Beijing.
Economic Coercion Didn't Force Political Conformity
- Australia proved more resilient than expected because many exports are fungible on global markets and China still needed critical commodities.
- Political unity and public backlash helped Canberra weather the coercion and force a recalibration.
